Rocking-chair.



No. 892,937. PATENTED JULY 7, 1908.

- F. GOWLBS & H. M. MORRILL.

ROCKING CHAIR. APPLICATION FILED JUNE14,-1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WZTNE 8 ES.

No. 892,937. PATENTED JULY 7, 1908.

F. GOWLES & H. M. MORRILL.

ROCKING CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 151906.

2 SHEBTS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES. JNVENTORS.

FRANK OOWLES AND EENRY M. MORRILL, OF TEKONSHA, MICHIGAN.

ROCKING-CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July '7, 1908.

Application filed June 14, 1906. Serial No. 321,744.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK OowLEs and HENRY M. MORRILL, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Tekonsha, in the county of Calhoun and Stateof Michigan, have invented .oertain new and useful Improvements inRocking-Chairs; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description thereof, such as will enable others skilledin the art to Which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification.

Our invention relates to that class of chairs in which twooppositely-disposed seats are arranged and connected by a commonframework provided with double rocking elements between which adetachable, oscillating foot board may be suspended to actuate therespective rockers, and the object of our invention is to plrovide achair capable of being swung wit but little exertion; whereby the motivepower may be regulated as occasion may require; whereby the same may bequickly and easily dismantled and folded into very small space; wherebythe foot board may be removed and used as an extension to the seatportions and make a swing couch or bed.

Other objects and advantages will ap ear in the following specificationsand wifl be articularly pointed out in the claims which ollow thesespecifications, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improvedchair. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same from the right. Fig. 3 is aside view taken on the line as, w, of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail inperspective of a rocker bracket. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectionthrough the rocker-gear bracket, and the frame and back side portions.Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the rocker-bracket, locking spring. Fig.7 is a perspective view in modification. Fig. 8 is a detachablefoot-board section, and Fig. 9 is a longitudinalsection of Fig. 7 withthe foot-board interlocked between the seat sections to form a lounge orbed.

Like marks of reference refer to corresp onding parts throughout thedifferent views.

A, represents the back, B, the seat, 0, the foot board, D, the rockers,and E, the main frame sections. Each of the rocker sections com risesdouble rockers, D, suitably se arate and connected by a rung, 1, uwarcfl inclined standards, 2, having at t eir bottoms a connectingbrace, 3 and a top bracket,

4, to which the standards are riveted, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The body or frame of the chair proper consists of theoppositely-disposed drop-frame sections, E, comprising the outwardly andupwardly diverging wings, 5, and bottom connection, 6. The section, 6,is secured to the wings by means of the bolts, 7, at either end thereof,and by secondary bolts provided with the thumb nuts, 8, a means wherebythe wing sections may be folded when such may be necessary for. cratingor arranging for transportation.

Connecting at the u per ends of the sections, 5, the backs, X, of therespective chairs are mounted, the seats, B, being pivoted to thesections, 5, by cross rods, 9, below the pivotal connection with theback sections, the outer ends of the seats being braced by sidesupports, 10, having slotted bottoms, 11, which rest on pins, 12, of theaforesaid wings. That the chair backs may be adjusted to varying angles,bails, 13, are received at their upper looped ends within notches, 14,along the respective backs, their lower free ends engaging the seatbraces, 10, springs,'15, of the chair backs preventing the bails fromdislodgment until released by the operator.

Each of the brackets, 4, is formed with a square, longitudinal hole forreceiving square connecting rods, 16, and has a cylindrical, inner end,17, which forms a journal adapted to receive the back and body sectionsat their points of union, and from which points the backs are adapted tobe tilted, and also folded, a rib, 18, forming a collar and preventinginner thrust of a bracket when mounted.

Depending from the outer end of a bracket, diverging arms, 19, areformed, to which the upper ends of the standards, 2, are riveted, alongitudinal, open-ended slot, 20, in the upper face thereof beingfitted with a curved spring, 21, having a 1i adapted to engage a recessor pocket, 22, o the square shaft, 16, to secure said bracket inposition, as shown in Fig. 5.

From the outer extremities of the seats, B, and sus ended from crossties, 23, the hooked en s of bails, 24, are supported. These bails, attheir looped ends, receive the extremities of a foot board, C, saidboard being formed with under-cut gains, 25, for receiving said bails.

Connecting with the loop of the bail to thereby causing the chairs tooscillate in unison.

Preparatory to crating or laying aside for the season, the bracesections, 10, are raised to clear the pins, 12, and the seats, B, foldedbetween the wings, 5, the brackets, 4 pulled from the cross bars, 16,the bars removed, whereby the backs, A, will be separated from the wingsections, and the bai-ls, 13, released from the notches, 16, whereby thebails will lie in parallel arrangement with the wing sections, or nearlyso. The thumbnuts, 8, will also be removed and the sections, 5, togetherwith the seat, B, braces, 10, and bails, 13, fold and lie together, andthe standards, 2, of the rocker sections may thence be made to stridethe already folded sections and complete the folding of the chair, allof which may be done easily and speedily, without the aid of tools.

In the modification shown in Figs. 7 and 9, the seat sections, B, arepivoted to the lower extremities of the chair backs, A, by a cross rod,9, and the side braces, 13 are adjustable with the seat braces 10through the medium of the holes within the seat braces, as shown. Therockers, D, have standards, 2, which unite at their tops and formtrunnions, 4, for receiving the side sections, 5, of the frame. To oneset of the standards to each set of rockers the stand ards are providedwith cranks or handles, F, by which motion may be imparted to therockers. The foot platform, 0, may be detached from the cross bars, 8,and fitted I between the seat sections, B, by seating the gains, 25,thereof, over the cross braces, 23, and afford a lounge or bed. In Fig.3 the section, C, may be removed from the bails, 24, in like manner andfitted between the seat sections on the cross braces, 23.

What, therefore, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1.-In a rocking chair, the combination with rocking elements, a'framework connecting said elements, backs pivotally su ported from saidframework, seats pivota y supported below said backs to said framework,brace elements suspended from said seats to said framework, bailssuspended from said seats, a foot platform connecting said bails, and apitman connecting said foot platform to one of said rocking elements.

2. In a rocking chair,- the combination with rocking elements, of acollapsible framework connecting said elements, chair backs pivotallysupported at either end of said framework at the pivotal connection withsaid rocking elements, said chair backs having notches in the rearthereof, chair seats pivotally supported to said framework below saidchair backs, brace elements having slotted lower extremities adapted tobe seated on pins in said frame work and pivotally connected at theirupper ends with said chair seats, bails pivoted at their free ends tosaid brace elements, their looped ends engaging the notches of saidchair backs, and springs secured to said chair backs to retain saidbails, as, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a rocking chair, the combination with rocking elements, aframework pivotally connecting said elements, chairs supported at eitherend of said framework, of bails suspended from said chairs, a footplatform detachably mounted upon said bails, a primary gear segmentfastened to one of said rocking elements at its pivotal connection withsaid framework, a secondary gear segment meshing with said primary gearsegment and pivotally suspended from said framework, and a pitmanconnecting said foot platform with said secondary gear, as and for thepur ose set forth.

4. In a roc ring chair, the combination with rocking elements, aframework pivotally connecting said elements, chairs sup orted at eitherend of said framework, of bai s suspended from the seats of said chairs,a foot platform detachably mounted upon said bails, a primary gearsegment fastened to one of said rocking elements at its pivotalconnection with said framework, a secondary gear segment meshing withsaid primary gear segment and ivotally suspended from said framework, aever depending from said secondary gear segment, and a pitman connectingsaid foot platform with said lever, and means to raise and lower saidpitman on said lever to change the stroke of said lever, as, and for thepurpose set forth.

5. In a rocking chair comprising adj acently-fronting pivotal rockerelements, a framework connecting said elements, of brackets secured tostandards of the rocker elements at the pivotal connection with saidframework, said brackets being rovided with oppositely-disposed squareho es, notches intersecting said holes, springs fitted within saidnotches, cross-rods having notches near either end thereof and adaptedto fit within and connect said brackets on oppositely-dis posed rockerelements, said springs adapted to engage the notches of said cross-rodsand removably secure said elements at their pivotal connection with saidframework, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a rocking chair comprising adjacently-fronting pivotal rockerelements, a framework connecting said elements, of brackets providedwith a cylindrical portion forming trunnions secured to the standards ofsaid rocker elements to form pivotal connections with said framework,said brackets being provided with oppositely disposed square holes,notches intersecting said holes, springs fitted within said notches,cross-rods having notches near either end thereof and adapted to fitwithin and connect said brackets on oppositely-disposed rocker elements,said springs adapted to engage the notches of said cross rods andremovably secure said elements at their pivotal connection with saidframework, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a rocking chair comprising adjacently-fronting pivotal rockerelements, a

framework connecting said elements, of brackets 4 secured to thestandards of the rocker elements, each of said brackets being providedwith a shoulder, 18, and a cylindrical portion, 17, adapted to receivesaid framework to form a pivotal connection therewith, said bracketshaving the mortises, 20, fitted with the springs, 21, crossrods, 16,connecting said brackets and provided with gains, 22, adapted to receivethe free ends of the s rings, 21, when in engagement with the saidbrackets and removably secure said elements at the pivotal connec tion,as and for the urpose set forth.

F ANK COWLES. HENRY M. MORRILL.

Witnesses:

H. F. WINGATE, F. H. WINGATE.

